Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-15

PETITION OF THE EXECUTIVE CoNMITTEE-No SUB
sIDY FROM THE GOVERNMENT ASKED FOR, ONLY A
FEW MEDALS AT NOMINAL cosT-MEDALs FROM
THE MINT ASKED FOR
The following petition of the executive commit
tee OF the, National Drill. and. Encampment was
presented In both houses of Congress yesterday,
and In each was referred to the committee on mill
tary affairs:
"The memorial OF the National Drill committee
OF the District Of Columbia most respectfully sets
forth:
Tnat, as within the past decade interstate CON-
petlt1ve drills OF the volunteer soldiers OF the
United states have been held at different points OF
thls country. always with steadily increasing adj
vantage to the drill, discipline and morale OF the
militia, and with steadily increasing attention
and interest OF the general citizenship OF the sew
That, as the idea has frequently been canvassed,
ana the feeling over the Union has grown that a
national capital would not only collect a Larger
BODY OF representative soldiers OF the several
sta.eS, put would be OF more military Importance
ana advantage from the national character the
event would necessarily attain amid national sur
r0undings;
Therefore, impressed with the propriety and adj
vantage OF these views some ninety citizens have
raised money TO the amount OF LOCO to secure
Oh all prizes for excellence to the extent
vi S-o'oO IN money, besides stands OF cOlOrS flags
trophies, medals Of merit, &C, &c.) and ali other
expenses Of the drill, and have completed all
comnnttee composed OF your memorialistS; and as
they nave natiOnaliZed this event to the fullest
extent possible to them by the Issue OF detailed
teer command in the United States to which re-
SpOnSeS have been received, giving reasonable as
Surance OF presence here in NAV next Of saw 1913
separate organizations, representing at least %
dInerent states and that there is every reason to
expect that by the closing OF entries on April /,
1884, every state and territory will be represented
by at least one separate command.
Therefore, they further remind your honorable
Dooes that the volunteer commands, comprising
the national guard OF the union, embrace the most
thoroughly representative men OF each state and
territory whence they come; that the professions,
trades capital, labor and all business interests
therein are directly connected with, and In the
main comprise, them; that they thus aggregate
he reliance and reserve power OF the entire union
In us military arm. and thus enforce practically
our republican theory OF large and well appoint
ed militia force In lieu OF an expensive standing
sentiment OF our people and by the Voice of the
press, Out Is emphasized and encouraged to the
greatest extent by the War department itself.
Your memOr1aliStS would state that not only the
military portion OF the several communities OF the
states, but equally the citizens and their families
the IN IN
camp named scamp George Washington" OF the
flower OF the American volunteer system, and in
the state pride and high emulation that COMPARE
son and competition call forth.
That every great railroad In the country is lend
It's AID and It's influence to assist the grandeur
ana extent OF this OCCASION and that it is believed
that the north and the south, the east and the
west, will be collected here in numbers never be-
fore eQualed. and under circumstances most con-
ducive to better knowledge OF each other closer
interchange OF sentiment and to broader fraterni-
ZatiOn.
Therefore, your memorialists beg leave to sug-
geSt to your honorable bodies that but one thing
is needed to complete and round this national drill
10 the most perfectly successful moral issue and to
the highest possible usefulness on its military side
InaI one thing Is such simple recognition by Con-
gress as will Nationalist IL, as viii give it the
stamp OF governmental countenance, with even
the least possible expenditure OF public money.
And to this end-having fully completed every
detail and having assumed every expense possible
TO them-yOur memOrialiStS pray the passage by
your honorable body OF joint resolution autho-
riztng The striking by the United states mint enc
grand medal Of honor and not TO exceed nineteen
lesser medals; the same to be designed under di-
rectton OF the War department. at a merely
nominal cost in money, and to be presented to
the competitors adJudged most worthy of the
same by the President OF the United States, as
commander-in-chief, or by such representative as
he may delegate"
The petition is signed by s. E. wheatley. chair
Bradley, treasurer; A. <. wilson. James E. Waugh,
VIM. A. Gordon. Thos: E. Waggaman, Chas. G..
Dqncanson, G; 7. Dunlop James p. Willett, George
w. Pearson, +. r. MaGlgan, T. w. Fox. Attest: L.
&. OeLNOn, Managing SeC'y Drill.